High strength frame structure

ABSTRACT

A high strength frame structure of a portable computer is disclosed, comprising a main structure frame including at least an “L” shaped column, a bracket disposed on the “L” shaped column and used for supporting a touchpad and a keyboard, a metal foil bonded onto the bracket and a lower cover frame served as a base for supporting the main structure frame, wherein the “L” shaped column has a cylinder bump disposed thereon at a rear end, the cylinder bump being fastened to a fastener hole by means of a bolt or a hinge so that a mainframe and a display panel of the portable computer may be connected together, and the metal foil being bonded in a replaceable manner, having capability of electromagnetic interference (EMI) isolation and saving a later electroplating process. The high strength frame structure may be manufactured in a simple form and strength of upper and lower covers of the frame structure may be enhanced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a high strength frame structure andparticularly to a high strength frame structure of a portable computerhaving a particular form made of materials of high strength.

2. Descriptions of the Related Art

With the rapid development of information technology, various digitalelectronic products have been born continually, such as portablecomputers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), flash drives andelectronic books. Such digital electronic products have become importantaids for human's work and life. Among them, the portable computers canbe the most important since they possess the best operation processingcapability and the largest storage space. Therefore, more attention aredeserved to be paid to appearance of the portable computers so thatconsumers on the market may be appealed more.

Although the portable computers have been greatly improved in volume andweight, from being clumsy and large at early time to featuring miniatureand compactness today, frame strength of the portable computers isrelatively less paid attention. For the recently, there are sometechnologies associated with vibration and pressure-resistant designsfor the portable computer frames set forth continually. Generally, theframes of the portable computers are formed by rigid plastic or compoundmaterials and an upper cover and a lower cover thereof are coated withlacquer or protection materials for isolation of electromagneticinterferences (EMIs). Therefore, these frames have been improvedparticularly in high structure strength and EMIs prevention capability.

In seeking a better frame strength, metal or plastic materials aregenerally adopted as the material for the main structure of the portablecomputer. Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of titaniumalloy-based thin cover of the portable computer illustrating an assemblymethod of the covers is depicted therein. The thin cover 11 is made oftitanium alloy. A plurality of fasteners 12 is disposed on four sides ofa base 10 so that the thin cover 11 may be firmly fastened to the base10. As such, the frame strength of the portable computer may be enhancedand assembly difficulty of the portable computer may be reduced.

Although the high rigid titanium alloy is provided circumferentiallywith respect to the base, only edges of the portable computer may beprotected from damage and destruction and a keyboard and a touchpadtherein may not be efficiently protected. In addition, since thefasteners are provided circumferentially with respect to the portablecomputer, damage on the central portion of the portable computer broughtby the external may not be protected. In addition, the generally usedrigid and strong materials often do not contribute to improved framestructure designs for stress elimination.

In view of this, the present invention provides an enhanced portablecomputer frame structure through which various internal and externalstresses at peripheral and central positions may be resisted. Since suchframe structure is provided with a main structure having a firmer base,the shortcomings as mentioned above may be well overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a highstrength frame structure through which a portable computer may besimplified in structure, cover strength of a main structure thereof maybe enhanced and manufacturing process and cost therefor may be reduced.

To achieve the above object, the high strength frame structure of aportable computer comprises a main structure frame comprising at leastan “L” shaped column, a bracket disposed on the “L” shaped column andused for supporting a touchpad and a keyboard thereon, a metal foilbonded onto the bracket and a lower cover served as a base forsupporting the main structure frame, wherein the “L” shaped column has acylinder bump disposed thereon at a rear end, the cylinder bump beingfastened to a fastener hole by means of a bolt or a hinge so that amainframe and a display panel of the portable computer may be connectedtogether, and the metal foil being bonded in a replaceable manner andhaving capability of electromagnetic interferences (EMIs) isolation.

According to the present invention, the high strength frame structure isformed through an improved frame design created. Further, the framestructure is manufactured in an integral form so that a simplified framedesign and an enhanced main structure may be achieved. In addition, thereplaceable disposed metal foil may provide isolation of EMIs.

To enable the above and other objects, features and advantages to bemore apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention will bedescribed in more detail taken from the preferred embodiments inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of titanium alloy based thin cover of aconventional portable computer illustrating an assembly method of thecover;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view schematically depicting a high strengthframe structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the high strength frame structure accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the high strength frame structure accordingto the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows another side view of the high strength frame structureaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view schematically showing a highstrength frame structure is depicted therein. The high strength framestructure, particularly for a portable computer, comprises a mainstructure frame 2, including at least an “L” shaped column 21. The “L”shaped column 21 has a cylinder bump 22 at a rear end. On the cylinderbump 22, a fastener hole 221 is on the cylinder bump 22 for fixing abolt or hinge. The bolt or hinge is provided for a tight connectionbetween a mainframe and a display panel of the portable computer. Inthis manner, it may be avoided that the mainframe and the display panelseparate with each other when being in use or carried. On the mainstructure frame 2, a bracket 23 is disposed for supporting a keyboardand a touchpad. A replaceable metal foil 231 (such as an aluminum foiland a tin foil) is bonded onto the bracket 231. This metal foil 231 isbonded for saving electroplating work on a cover of the portablecomputer, which is conducted in the conventional portable computermanufacturing process at a later stage for prevention of electromagneticinterferences (EMIs). After a long use of the portable computer, a usermay remove this metal foil 231 and replace it with a new metal foil 231in a simple manner. As such, promoted work efficiency and time savingmay be achieved. In addition, a lower cover 31 is made of a rigidmaterial and has a single unit construction as a base to support themain structure frame 2 so that the base may provide a sufficientstrength for edges of the frame.

Referring to FIG. 3, a top view of the high strength frame structureaccording to the present invention is shown therein. The main structureframe 2 is made of a metal or plastic material. At two sides of thelower cover 31 is seated a bridge structure, the bridge structure havingtwo cylinder bumps which may be fastened. As also mentioned above, thebracket 23 is located between the two cylinder bumps for support of thekeyboard and the touchpad. On the bracket 23, the metal foil 231 isbonded, which may be provided in compliance with an EMI standard. Assuch, the surface supporting the keyboard and the touchpad is notrequired to be electroplated at a subsequent manufacturing stage in theportable computer manufacturing process.

Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of the high strength frame structureaccording to the present invention is shown therein. The lower cover 31is used as the base of the main structure frame 2, which has a singleunit construction, and may enhance strength of the main structure. Anupper cover is formed in a simplified manner so that cost therefor maybe reduced. On the lower cover 31, the bracket 23 is a single unitconstruction, as mentioned above. On the bracket 23, a metal foil 231may be bonded so as to prevent EMIs.

Referring to FIG. 5, another side view of the high strength framestructure according to the present invention is shown therein. The lowercover 31 may be replaced in a modular form so that cost therefor may bereduced and diversity in design may be achieved. Further, manufacturingof the overall portable computer may be performed in a more efficientmanner. The bracket 23 seated on the lower cover 31 has four legs and aplaten, and is used for support of the touchpad 232 and the keyboard233, as above mentioned.

From the description made above, it may be demonstrated that the highstrength frame structure of a combination of particular forms mayactually achieve the efficacy that improves poor stress-resistantability and main structure of the conventional frame structure,particularly used for a portable computer.

While this invention has thus far been described in connection with thepreferred embodiments thereof, it will readily be possible for thoseskilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various othermanners without departing from the scope set forth in the appendedclaims.

1. A frame structure of a portable computer, comprising: a mainstructure frame, comprising: at least an “L” shaped column; a bracketdisposed on said “L” shaped column; a metal foil bonded onto saidbracket; and a lower cover frame served as a base for supporting saidmain structure frame.
 2. The frame structure according to claim 1,wherein said “L” shaped column has a cylinder bump disposed thereon at arear end and wherein said cylinder bump has a fastener hole disposedthereon for a tight connection of a mainframe and a display panel of theportable computer.
 3. The frame structure according to claim 1, whereinsaid main structure frame is made of a metal.
 4. The frame structureaccording to claim 1, wherein said main structure frame is made of aplastic material.
 5. The frame structure according to claim 1, whereinsaid lower cover is a single unit construction.
 6. The frame structureaccording to claim 2, wherein said connection is achieved by a boltfastened to said fastener hole.
 7. The frame structure according toclaim 2, wherein said connection is achieved by a hinge fastened to saidfastener hole.
 8. The frame structure according to claim 1, wherein saidmetal foil is an aluminum foil.
 9. The frame structure according toclaim 1, wherein said metal foil is a tin foil.
 10. The frame structureaccording to claim 1, wherein said bracket includes four legs and aplaten.